Cherished: True Mates Book 5 (BBW Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) by Olivia Arran Read Free Book Online Page B

into fists of frustration.
    “Oliver, you nearly missed it.” Gregg gestured me over to where he leaned against a crate.
    Stifling a curse, I stalked over. Nodding at them both, I watched as Bert took a swipe at James, his claws missing the other man’s throat by bare inches.
    “James wouldn’t let either of us have a turn,” Gregg commented, and Sean huffed, adding his own thoughts on the matter. “Said as Alpha, he needed to be the one to bring him down.”
    “Well, he needs to get a move on. The women and children are ready to be moved.”
    Gregg raised a single eyebrow. “Any problems?”
    Apart from meeting my true mate, and finding out she’s already mated to that bastard over there? I ground my teeth together. “None.”
    I refused to meet Sean’s eyes, knowing he would be calling me out on my bullshit. He had witnessed Ana and me in the yard earlier, and he wasn’t an idiot.
    “James, Oliver says you need to get a move on, or from the looks of things he’ll be taking matters into his own hands,” Gregg called across the room, letting me know my frustration wasn’t going unnoticed.
    James growled, his eyes flashing silver at the challenge.
    “I can take you all, just wait your turn, pup,” Bert snarled, dodging James’ retaliating blow.
    I lurched forward, his words ringing in my ears as my claws extended, ready to show him exactly what sort of a man he was dealing with.
    “Oliver! Stand down.” A hand dug into my arm, pulling me back.
    “I won’t.” My words were nearly unintelligible, my animal speaking for me. I ripped my arm away, unable to stop myself from stalking forward, until I was face-to-face with the man I hated more than anyone I had hated before.
    Bert took a step back before he could stop himself, his face frozen in shock. “What’s this? You’re admitting your Alpha can’t take me down, so you’re helping? Where’s this honor you all speak so highly of?” he spat out, his hands twitching at his sides.
    “Oliver, what are you doing?”
    I ignored James’ low growl. “I’m the fixer, therefore this fight is mine if I want it.”
    “Oliver, you will not undermine me—”
    “Oh, this is hilarious! You can’t control your own pack!” Bert drawled.
    “Oliver—” James growled.
    I spared him a glance. He was furious , but underneath it I could detect confused concern. It was what made James a good Alpha. He didn’t let the power go to his head, didn’t let it rule him. Even now, riled up and fighting, he could think.
    I just had to give him a reason good enough to consider.
    “I found my true mate.” There. That should be enough.
    Understanding dawned in James’ eyes.
    Bert started to laugh, the sound manic and cruel. “Oh, this is brilliant! Which one is yours? The redhead, the brunette or the blonde? I can never remember names so I collect colors.”
    “Fuck!” Gregg muttered from behind me.
    “He’s all yours, but remember, keep him alive,” James ordered, taking a step back.
    I didn’t waste a second, plowing my fist into Bert’s face, obliterating his smug expression and sending him crashing back into the wall. Stalking over, I dragged him to his feet, pinning him with one hand, the other pulled back, readying to strike again.
    “Fight, damn you!” I shouted, shaking him.
    He spat in my face, the wet globule splattering onto my cheek and sliding down. Laughing, he snarled, “If I don’t fight back then you can’t release your holier-than-thou fury on me, can you?”
    “I can beat the living shit out of you whether you fight back or not.”
    “But you won’t, because that wouldn’t be honorable. It must kill you to know that I’ve fucked your woman, that she screamed when I took her, pounding my dick inside of her and seeding her with my child. Or is it that I’m bonded to her, and that she’s mine forever?”
    My head filled with static, his words echoing in my mind, tearing through me and clawing at my heart, my soul.
    I slashed my